BBC Worldwide Clinches New Deals for Freehand’s Wildlife Series

CANNES, April 9: BBC
Worldwide has concluded a number of international broadcast sales at MIPTV for
the new factual series Outback Wildlife Rescue from Australian independent outfit Freehand.

BBC Worldwide
took a 25-percent stake in Freehand in 2007, as part of its strategy to become a leading
international content producer in Australia. The 13×30-minute Outback
Wildlife Rescue has been licensed
to UKTV for the U.K. and Ireland, free-to-air Channel 9 in Thailand, TVB in
Hong Kong and Greek network Eidiseis.

The series is filmed in
Australia’s Northern Territory, home to a vast array of wildlife and a
non-profit organization called Wildlife Rescue Darwin, which cares for
thousands of sick, injured and orphaned animals every year. The goal of the
facility is to rehabilitate the animals and to release them back into the wild.

“These sales are a
testament to the huge potential of our investment in Freehand,” commented Julie
Dowding, BBC Worldwide Australasia’s head of sales. “We know this will be a
very successful global property for us, and we look forward to closing more
deals soon.”

“We are delighted with the
response Outback Wildlife Rescue
has had in the market place to date,” added Chris O’Mara, Freehand’s commercial
director. “We feel confident further sales will follow as a result of the
activities at MIP and look forward to production on the second series later in
2008.”

—By Irene Lew